Keep Panels Metal Shard Free With The Chip Catcher & The Dirt Bag

When I was growing up, my dad had an entire collection of phrases that he used to convey complicated things in very simple terms. One of my favorites was “Don’t start none, won’t be none.”

These six simple words were his way of saying; you’re stirring up trouble and if you don’t sit down, shut up and stop it right now, you’re going to get whipped. The sentiment may not have been, PC by today’s standards, but back then, the lines, between acceptable and unacceptable behavior, were much clearer.

The funny thing about this particular expression is that I catch myself using a variation of it with the guys at work. “Don’t make none, won’t be none.”

It is no secret that, on the job, I’m a neat freak. I am fanatical about keeping work spaces and customers’ property clean. One reason, it is disrespectful to leave a mess and another is safety. You can’t slip on anything that isn’t there and saying this is my way of reinforcing the idea, without being a complete ass. They complain about cleaning up a mess. That’s what I tell them; “Don’t make none, won’t be none.”

That is why I love the two tools I am going to tell you about this week. They help you not make a mess and keep you safe. They are The Chip Catcher and The Dirt Bag. Two tools that are each outstanding in themselves, but when combined are fantastic.

Drilling Panels

Whether drilling panels or other metal boxes we all know two things. One is that metal shavings are a pain to clean up and two that left behind they can cause big problems. That is the purpose of both of these tools to collect metal shavings, but they each come at it in opposite directions.

The Chip Catcher uses Rare Earth Magnets to stick to the outside of any metal surface and collect the chips as they fall. When you finish drilling simply push the center disk forward and release the shavings into the trash.

The Dirt Bag is for what the Chip Catcher misses. It goes on the inside of the panels and collects the shavings as they fall inside. Same as the Chip Catcher it attaches with magnets, but is constructed of completely non-conductive materials and the anti-static liner assures the safety of sensitive components.

Falling Chips

Loose metal inside a box is never a good idea. It doesn’t matter if it is a mainline service or an instrumentation panel they will always find a way to cause trouble. They will cause a breaker to stick, short a relay or just cause ghost problems.

Using either one of these tools will do wonders to eliminate these problems, but when you combine them it’s magic. Between the Catcher on the outside and the Bag inside, it is hard for much to get away.

No more letting the chips fall where they may. No more sweeping the floor or pulling parts and brushing them down. Just drill, empty and get on with the job.

This will save you loads of time, make your work more foolproof and prevent issues down the road.

Until next time, keep the coffee hot, and the beer cold and don’t forget to like us on Facebook.

Safety Note: I know we are all professionals here, but on the off chance that one person reading this article and using these tools isn’t, I must add a word of caution. Never, ever under any circumstance drill a live panel. Check and double-check to make sure that all power sources are isolated and circuits cold before beginning work.